Ev-n-Spred 2030P Deluxe Spreader with Pneumatic Wheels

Wheels move great even with a heavier load. I'm tall so I don't bend over near as far with this spreader as I do with others. The soft grip handle is good but you need to be careful as it damages easily. When adjusting the settings with the wing-nut it can be a bit sharp when settling the leaver on and off while spreading. It would be better if the 2 were not so close to one another.

This is an excellent spreader, and I expect to use it for many, many years to come. The pneumatic tires are great. The controls are easy to use and work well. The hopper has a good capacity. The spreader comes completely assembled, and appears to be quality construction.I picked this spreader after reading a lot of reviews. Two potential problems were highlighted in those reviews: the control cable for the flow control rusting, and the flow control setting being accidentally changed when opening and closing the gate at the bottom while stopping or turning.I was pleased to see that the control cable is now sheathed in rubber insulation, so I can't imagine it rusting. Kudos to Earthway for solving a problem that only a few reviewers had reported.As to the very minor issue, when you set the flow setting (easy to determine using the chart provided online by Earthway), you might want to tighten the set screw more than you think is necessary. I looked down into the hopper halfway through my front yard and noticed I was dispensing a lot more product than I intended. Sure enough, I had accidentally bumped the flow control wide open when I stopped the flow while crossing my driveway. Once I was aware of the problem, I tightened the set screw adequately and had no more problems.One final consideration: This is a broadcast spreader. I need to add iron to my lawn on a regular basis, and the iron stains concrete if not swept up shortly after application. It would be nice to be able to block one or both sides (limiting the area of application) when applying product next to certain areas (such as applying iron next to a driveway or sidewalk, or applying certain types of weed control next to a flowerbed). I believe Earthway makes an optional guard that does exactly that, but I'm not sure. Next spring I'll probably try to fashion such a device out of cardboard to limit the amount of sweeping and blowing of concrete needed after I add iron to the lawn.This is a great spreader, I'm very happy with it, and I'm glad I bought it.

The price is really good.

After searching reviews on all mid-cost spreaders, this one stood out as the best choice. Not disappointed in performance at all. I had been using a cheap Scott spreader from a local building materials store, it broke two years ago, last year I was able to cob the stirring mechanism back together with (you guessed it -) duct tape (Larry would have been so proud) and limp through the season.This spreader has great control with a conveniently located lever to close the ports into the spreader, along with a stop that allows starting the flow again at the same rate. The stirring mechanism is probably still a weak point in the overall design, but I won't be able to speak to that for a couple years. I must admit, I liked the Scott spreader because my forearms got such a workout fighting the spring mechanism that I couldn't hold a beer while admiring my work.The wheels are set wide enough on the Earthway that the spreader is pretty stable and won't tip over (like the aforementioned torture machine) even when dumping a 50-lb bag of whatever into it.The only complaint after using it for the first time is that the handle is TOO SHORT, and I am vertically challenged, i.e., well under 6'. I am considering modifying the design by fabricating a new handle that adds approximately six-inches to a foot to the length so that I don't permanently ruin my posture. Too bad duct tape only has tensile strength.

Plastic gears, plastic driveshaft, and snap together plastic gearbox equals overpriced junk. I bought this a year ago and finally used it today for the first time. I paid 5 times the amount for this one as what I could have paid at the big box stores for a cheapie but ended up no better. I was willing to pay the extra money as this one was rated for rock salt and thought it was pretty heavy duty. I was spreading medium grind lime (consistency of sand) on my lawn. made it 70 yards and the driveshaft bent so much it popped out of the gearbox and the gearbox popped open. Parts were so badly mangled it would not reassemble. Shame on me for buying a product and not using it right away.